The Escambia
County
Equestrian Center
When AKC first approved
our site, we were told it was one of the best outdoor sites in the
southern tri-state circuit.
While it can't compete for the amentities of a large indoor site
in a city that has drawn clubs into large clusters, it allows our
club to keep AKC purebred dog events in the vicinity of our base
at a reasonable cost. As expenses have climbed, the Fairground prices
were beyond what our shows could recover and the Equestrian Center
offered the answer. We believe it better serves the promotion of
purebred dogs and draws members of our locality into the sport to
keep our events in our "neighborhood" and serves all exhibitors
to hold our show on a weekend vs. during the middle of the week.
The dirt in the arena is rolled into a hard pack before rings are
set. We now put down a material mat that is nailed into that
hard pack for two of the rings that allow the toys, most terriers and
most non-sporting breeds to be shown off the dirt and will allow handlers
to kneel on this material. These two rings served as the group ring.
The mats hold up well and we will continue to set them in the future.
The
club installs wind screens to help control the wind that can cool
the temperature that can range from shirt sleeve weather one day
to bitter wind the next. Despite reports of global warming and a
mean average of 67 degrees the first of March, a cold north wind
made our 2013 show memorably cold. Since then our shows have had wonderful
weather, but to that 2013 memory, we are allowing pre-reservation
of crating spaces (10 x 10) upon which exhibitors can put up a tent
or pop up with sides if they would like. We ask that these areas
provide for multiple crating / grooming spaces so everyone has room
to crate in the arena area. If you are going to tent, have tents
up before the show begins so other dogs are not distracted and tents
must fit within space with no trip hazard stakes. The reserved spaces
are $10 - contact show chair
with subject line: RESERVED CRATING
There are a limited number
of plug ins around the arena, however the EQC charges $18 a day
for the usage. A stall with electricity is $22 a night or
$35 for 2 nights and can be reserved through PDFA. Most find the stalls more convenient and cancel arena reservations. You may learn more and find reservation info on stalls here on reservations page - scroll down. Some stalls allow for parking a vehicle in front of stall for an extra $5 (pays for parking patrol)
The EQC is working with the club to help provide amenities that
can improve our site. They provided hot water in some of the wash
bays and it added to the show experience.
There are plenty of places to walk dogs, including trails in the
wooded area behind the EQC. |

Many breeds find the packed natural footing at the
ECQ a bonus and move more freely than on cement.


Stalls (12x12) offer room for mutiple crates, ex pens
and grooming tables, as well as electricity and security if you
bring a lock. Tarps or drop cloths help keep dogs off dirt and easy clean up of dog hair. The ECQ sells shavings if desired. Reservation form.
|


There are showers, bathrooms, a concessionaire
and vendors on site. There is ample area for free standing RVs -
many like to be at the back of the stall area where they can have
their dogs in stalls, but expens are allowed in reserved RV and
box van areas. Full RV hookups are reasonable at $44 a night for full hook up, but
limited.
See reservation page to reserve.
Overnight parking is $11 a night. Check in near
the EQC office site 12 when you arrive.
Day Parking fees for exhibitors are $3 a day or $5 for Saturday
and Sunday.
Admission fees for spectators are $3 a person
or $5 a carload. |